Former treasurer guilty to stealing Pulteney fire funds

The former treasurer for Pulteney Fire District No. 2 pleaded guilty to grand larceny Thursday in Steuben County Court after an audit found she stole more than $5,000 in public funds.

Lisa Stone, 45, of Hammondsport, pleaded guilty to third degree grand larceny before Judge Marianne Furfure, according to the New York State Comptroller’s Office.

Charges were filed after an audit and investigation by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli revealed that she falsified vouchers and paid herself an additional, illegal salary. The investigation was conducted with Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office.

Stone confessed to DiNapoli’s staff and the sheriff’s office that she wrote extra salary checks to herself and made personal purchases using district funds, according to the comptroller’s office. The audit found that from 2009 to 2014, fire district money was not properly safeguarded, allowing Stone to steal $9,224.

“Too many fire districts fall prey to those who abuse public money for personal gain,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “Such crimes can be deterred by proper oversight. The first line of defense is checks and balances, even in the smallest of departments. We will continue to partner with law enforcement to hold accountable those who violate the public trust. I thank Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.”